Dooley Noted: Pride Month and the holiness of God
The images are impossible to overlook or dismiss. Men with beards, wearing dresses and makeup, advertising everything from groceries to tax services. Obscene parades so full of gyrating nudity that no cable channel would dare air the perversion on their networks. Drag queens with unsuspecting children gathered around them for story hours normalizing the homosexual lifestyle. Sporting events littered with commercials adorned by rainbow flags, offering not so subtle instructions about how Americans should embrace and celebrate the LGBTQ movement.
Throughout June we will be told that all of this is perfectly normal. We’ll be advised to resist hate because love wins. People are born this way, some will insist, while others will boast of fluid sexuality. And children dressed as drag queens and dancing like strippers? Get ready to celebrate or else. Chants of “We’re here. We’re queer. We’re coming for your children” is nothing you should worry about, and, if you do, you’re a homophobic bigot. Absolutely nothing to see here.
Even worse will be the scorn of anyone who dares to speak out against such immoralities. Despite a sea of homosexual propaganda that will last an entire month, anyone bold enough to swim against the tide by voicing concern will be quickly be labeled as the aggressor against a community of LGBTQ victims. “We just want to live our lives and be left alone,” they’ll say. The irony is rich. While public schools and universities, the mainstream media, and virtually every Fortune 500 company continues to brainwash our children and deceive the general public, those who know better had better sit down and be quiet or else. Nothing to see here, remember?
Debunking these misguided ideas is easy for anyone with an ounce of common sense and moral fortitude. For Christians, there should be no dichotomy between loving sinners while simultaneously hating sin. Every Christ follower wrestles with temptations of all kinds, yet we are to hate and resist the sins that so easily entangle us (Rom. 7:15; Heb. 12:1). If we can despise our personal wickedness without loathing ourselves, surely, we can do this for others as well. Tragically, though, even Christians are becoming increasingly desensitized to the lies of our culture.
The recent demise of the United Methodist Church, which abandoned biblical orthodoxy in exchange for the sexual revolution at their April General Conference, is but the latest example of the pressure on believers to capitulate to the cultural whims of depravity. Despite the faithful remnant of Methodists who decried the move, many wolves in sheep’s clothing quickly lined up to defend the action as progress in an ever-changing world. In other words, nothing to see here.
Understandably, you will hear no mention of the holiness of God amidst all this talk of social enlightenment. In fact, you won’t hear much Scripture at all from those who stomp their feet and insist that Christianity is compatible with sexual deviance. If you do, the Bible’s clear meaning and application will likely be unrecognizable due to the interpretive babble of these modern revisionists.
Within this atmosphere, I cannot help but think of the warning from the lips of Isaiah the prophet, who said, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight (Isa. 5:20-21)!” In fact, the ancient warnings of Isaiah’s prophecy are apropos not only during Pride month, but also every month.
The book of Isaiah perfectly weaves the themes of God’s holy wrath and God’s cleansing grace together, giving us a fuller sense of the magnitude surrounding His glory. After pronouncing judgement on the nations of the world (chapters 13-24), Isaiah reveals numerous laments and reasurances (28-33). Then, the prophet singles out Edom as a picture of the earth’s reprobate nations (Isa. 34:4-5). The host of heaven refers to the enemies of God both in the heavenly and natural realms (the same word is translated armies in Isa. 34:2). Likely, the future judgment of demonic forces as well as earthly rebels is the focus here. The Lord will utterly destroy them (Isa. 34:2) like a leaf that falls from a vine or fruit that is severed from a fig tree (Isa. 34:4).
Ultimately, God will end the age of treacherous insurrection where His sovereign fame is mocked by the wicked in every realm. Because the sword of His wrath is first bathed in heaven, it seems that the Lord will first destroy the minions of hell who initiate so much of the earth’s resistance to the heavenly kingdom. The message is clear; GOD WILL NOT BE MOCKED. Though this glorious picture of God’s strength is seldom expounded, Isaiah compels us to marvel over His holiness even as we humble ourselves before Him.
So don’t fall for all the lies that you’ll be hearing this month. Look at the order of creation and remember that God made us male and female for a reason (Rom. 1:24-27). Listen to your God-given conscience and choose to resist the currents of indecency (Rom. 2:14-16). Love all people as the image bearers of God (Gen. 1:26-28), especially those who are held captive by the devil to do his will (2 Tim. 2:26). But remember also that love apart truth is a myth. Therefore, gently correct those in opposition with hopes that God will lead them to repentance in light of the truth (2 Tim. 2:25). The holiness of God leaves no room for pride.
Dr. Adam B. Dooley is pastor of Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson, TN, and author of Hope When Life Unravels. Contact him at adooley@ebcjackson.org. Follow him on Twitter @AdamBDooley.
